Apr 28, 2010

Goya One 95V: 95 L: 241 W: 61.5

The ride: With the least amount of flat and some of the softest rails of our mid-90-litre test boards, the One has a little different feel. The nose rides high and the board is sensitive reacting quickly to subtle foot pressure—much more like a wave board. However, what makes it excel as a freestyle wave shape is that it planes up quicker than a wave board and tracks well across chop. To find the best performance you’ll want to have a hips-in stance and be able to ride comfortably with weight more on your front foot. In this rider position, the One feels at home when sailing with speed over chop. Intermediates will find this rider position, and its sensitivity makes it challenging for those not yet comfortable in the straps. The new MFC footstraps are a welcome upgrade that make for a more secure connection to the board and gives you the confidence to pop off any ramp you come across.

The jibe: In the corners is where the One really shines. It will gladly carve through any arc you choose and keep speed even when you go tight. Chaotic chop disappears as you can either drive right through it or adjust your carve mid-arc to find a flatter line. This reactivity is something for more advanced jibers to take advantage of while it may be a little too much for those learning to jibe.

The forte: The One was the first test board grabbed for our annual trip to San Carlos. We changed out the fin for a smaller, more swept wave shape that helped loosen up the ride a little more. Going rail to rail on this “big” board was no problem, and we were able to go for lip without any hesitation.